Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Book Spotlight: Little Beach Bungalow by Joanne DeMaio





ABOUT THE BOOK:

Little Beach Bungalow

(The Seaside Saga #9)

by 
From the New York Times bestselling author of Night Beach comes a novel as alluring as a weathered cottage by the sea.

The cottage is nestled along winding Sea View Road, set back from the sandy street. Surrounded by swaying dune grass, it's a shabby little beach bungalow with an open back porch overlooking a sparkling Long Island Sound. A sign propped in the front window says: For Rent.

Well, the cottage was For Rent ... until one particular lobsterman booked a summer stay there. As Shane Bradford settles into the New England beach town of Stony Point, he unloads more than boxes and duffels. With his arrival, he unpacks secrets, and entwined histories, among his circle of beach friends. Old loves surface. New ones emerge, too.

Little Beach Bungalow follows Shane's simmering summer days back on the Connecticut shore, and much is in store.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She enjoys writing about friendship, family, love and choices, while setting her stories in New England towns or by the sea. Little Beach Bungalow is her newest novel. Currently at work on her next book, Joanne lives with her family in Connecticut.

To learn more about the author, visit Joannedemaio.com. She also enjoys hearing from readers on her Facebook Page




MY REVIEW:

Little Beach Bungalow by Joanne DeMaio
Story picks up where the last one left off but can be read as a standalone because you are given vague glimpses into the past.
Right off the bat I'm loving the new words I'm learning and how at ease I feel as if I'm right there at the shoreline.
It's a dreary, in the 40's kind of day and I feel the warmth from their sun.
This book encompasses many lives and as an extra bonus the manuscript is being urned into a book. There are so many sides to this book, can't get enough of it.
At times I feel so sad for the scenes unfolding in front of me, I hurt and ache for them,  for the people involved, at times laughing so hard at the pranks and the lifelong friends over the years. Still learning about all the secrets.
Twists and turns as people come back into their lifes leaving a mark...
So many misunderstandings that need to be fixed...
The next book is highlighted at the end. About the author is also included.
I was given this review copy by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest opinion


Monday, May 13, 2019

Book Review: USA Word Search Puzzles by Ilene J. Rattiner, Frank J. D'Agostino




USA Word Search Puzzles by Ilene J. Rattiner, Frank J. D'Agostino
Have always loved word search puzzles, especially themed ones.
This one is about the 50 starts of the USA.There is SO much educational information here.
Starts with a note from the author about the book itself.
Each state lists the state song, town, city, university, city, flowers, livestock, highest point, crops, birthplaces of famous people, state stone, colleges, insects, capital, monument, state tree, museums, wildlife refuge, parks, villages, Bridges, heritage center and a lot more history. So fun and educational for all ages.
What a  fun TREASURE!
Answers to the puzzles are shown at the back of the book. Other word search educational puzzles by the author are highlighted at the end.
Received this review copy by Dover Publications via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
 #UsaWordSearchPuzzles #NetGalley

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Books read May 7





The Assateague ponies by Keiper_ Ronald R
I've heard stories of these that live on the islands off the coast of VA and they are cool stories of pirate days.
Research on all aspects of the ponies lives. 37 mile long island where it's protected now.
Seashore caretakers want others to watch from afar as the ponies can be dangerous.
Lot of different aspects of the ponies: how they were deposited there, how they life, weather concerns, other animals,
birthing and they've lived over 300 years!  Learned about other islands around the world and specific characteristics of the ponies there.
Found this book fascinating, so many new things I've learned about them and their habits, how they are identified and what information is included on the bands.
Like how they trim the herds and also get rid of the troublemakers. Wish they had talked about what happens when they die on the island. There was some talk of autopsies but that was it.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




Copycat Recipes: The Ultimate Cookbook for Making Your Favourite Restaurant Dishes at Home, Including Delicious, Quick and Easy to Follow Recipes! by Olivia Howard
Table of contents includes recipes for the meals of the day along with desserts.
Short intro about the book.
Each recipe contains a title, retailer it was from, prep and cook time and list of ingredients-NOT always very healthy.
Directions are given to make at home and there are NO pictures.
There is NO nutritional information.  No servings mentioned.
Found a lot of dishes I'm interested in trying-rather than buying at the restaurant: cherry vanilla ice cream but you need an ice cream maker,
Starbucks cakes, and maybe some Cracker Barrel recipes and especially the lava cake.
Be good for a yearly treat because of all the fat content in the recipes.
Wish there was an index of recipes.
A KEEPER for now






The clockmaker's daughter by Morton_ Kate
Enjoy learning new things and think this one will be about clocks.
1962, house party for a week but things don't go as planned.
Book moves forward to 2017 when Elody going through all the paperwork and she has to gather all the items for sale soon.
Sachel had been has been found, it had been delivered in 1969 and she finds photo inside along with a journal of sketches.
She tells her dad about the story they told her as a child-about the house , the clearing n the river...
Scary moments as she learns about her mothers life just weeks before her death and the circumstances surrounding. Her best friends mother took the picture.
Like hearing of the present day as she recalls where Lucy had been and how she had hid, dropped blue stone in her dress. So many details, from Martin and Edward.
There's something for everyone in this book, mystery, hidden passages and lots of details and travel, pretend characters, wild imagination.
About the author is included at the end.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




Kids Meal Ideas: 50 Kid Friendly Recipes (Family Menu Planning Series Book 3) by Debbie Madson 
Free thank you link is available as a gift. Other works by the author.
Table of contents where recipes are broken up into food categories.
Each recipe includes a title, brief summary of the dish, servings and list of ingredients.
Love that the ingredients listed are using low fat products along with low sodium.
Directions are given but there is NO pictures or nutritional information.
There are some color photos.
Green eggs and ham would be my choice cuz it'd be such a fun meal with kids.
Lots of choices, lots of variety.



To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck
To me this book is about the path of Joseph and Mary but placed in CA valleys rather than in Bethlehem.
Lots of reference to things going on in the valley, workers, etc which is typical Steinbeck descriptions and details.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).





Delicious Healthy and Vegan Recipes: Natural Cookbook for Good Health by Alicia Dennis
Table of contents where recipes are lumped into meal categories, regular meals then vegan meals.
Each recipe starts with a title, summary of the dish and calorie count.
List of ingredients in American measurements along with directions. There is a Medium size color photograph.
There is NO nutritional information but you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar, fresh vs. canned products.
Interesting tips are also included.
Some recipes use British measurements and some use both American and British in the same recipes.
Lots of math to do to understand just how much you will need of an item.
Lots of variety to select your favorite dish.




The mapmaker's daughter by Helldorfer_ Mary-Claire
She was raised hearing of the tales of the witches in a far away land. She wants to go there and chart out the paths.
When the king comes to demand they be locked up the king grants her permission to go find his son...
She tries to get across the waters but they say she's too heavy. She drops some items but she's still too heavy.
She tries many different means of travel to no avail. She even tears the charted sheet of paper...
Even the lock of hair from her father is tossed aside...
The witch gives her a golden rope and she and the prince run for their lives. Reminds me of fantasy fables.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Duck and Cover: Eleven Short Stories by Rich Elliott
Interesting childhood stories, bring back memories of all the neighborhood kids, mostly cousins and we all played outside.
Some sad times and happy times and such learning hands on experiences.


Mexican: Easy Recipes (Mrs. Goodfood's Around The World in 20 Recipe Books): Beginner´s Guide by Neyda Goodfood
Great book to have on hand especially for Cinco de Mayo-=May 5 in the US.
Table of contents  and meals are broken up into tops and then different flavorings for other dishes in that category.
Short intro about legends of Mexico and Texas and how the dishes combined their favorite things.
Recipes start with a title, color photo a bit about the dish and list of ingredients.
Some just give you the list, not the exact amounts to use. Directions are given but there is NO nutritional information.
Some recipes use British measurements, some use American, some use both in the same recipe-hard to figure out how much of an item you need.
NOT all recipes have a color photo.
Glossary is also included at the end.





The Last Christmas: A Short Story by Brandon Meyers
Story of a man in the jail cell and strange things and creatures come into the cell.
They are described but I wonder just how much is the untreated wound playing a part in all this.

Pub May 7 Book Review: Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews





Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews
Have read a lot of other works by this author and have found the story line is usually a bunch of women get away for a while, at a beach and just hang out.
This one is so different-I like it, A LOT!
Starts with Drue and she's lost her mother, her job and gotten hurt being a kite sailboarder. Her father shows up at the funeral and he invites her to Sunset Beach-she lives on the opposite side of FL in her mother's house.
She gets a job at his law firm answering phones in hopes to get leads to new client-slip and sue lawsuits.
She has to mingle with a lot of the workers to keep good graces with her father-her new step mother was her girlfriend in high school.
There are a handful of characters and soon you learn there is a lot more to the story.
Like hearing of the relationships she starts up and how she helps others. Like the green flash at sunset sightings and how she is helped herself in reclaiming more mobility in her legs, after her injury.
It not only is about Drue but her parents when they were growing up/married. There are also other stories involving their friends during the 70's that all lead to the same outcome.
Amazing how it's all connected. SO many twists and turns and totally unpredictable. Hope the author will continue writing this style of book again.
Ends with the authors words about how the book came about and her real life with beach houses and author retreats which also includes menus and recipes.
What an all around book, it has it all-something for everyone.
Received this review copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#SunsetBeach by #MaryKayAndrews. #NetGalley

May 7 Book Review: Knitted Animal Friends Over 40 Knitting Patterns






Knitted Animal Friends Over 40 Knitting Patterns for Adorable Animal Dolls, Their Clothes and Accessories by Louise Crowther
Thought this was a cool idea for a book especially because it'd make a perfect Easter gift.
Highly photographed and exquisite color combinations Table of contents and tools, materials and short intro
Essential notes is a must read for this book!
What I loved are the very fine detailed fronts of the sweaters/shirts on the characters: lacy and cabling like you'd make for a human being.
Has one section on standard body parts and how to make them step by step instructions, row by row and some illustrations.
Each animal has it's own chapter where the animal is actually named. There is a brief description about the animal and then the pattern.
Dimensions are discussed, yarn types and how to make them.
Photos are shown along the way with important information to make it easier for you to assemble the animals.
I like that you are encouraged to change the colors of the outfits and mix and match from the given instructions.
Use your imagination! Detail is paid attention with accessories such as small buttons, purses, belts, etc.
There are so many I want to make as gifts and for charity.
I personally think anybody who can knit and purl could make these if you have the patience.
Like that they prefer cotton as it's easier to wash and dry. Small size 2 needles are suggested, pack your patience if you don't this size often.
Some charted designs are included.
Techniques and other useful information and about the author listed at the end.
Such a cool book!
I received this review copy from F+W Media via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
 #KnittedAnimalFriends #NetGalley

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Book Spotlight: Intermittent Fasting for Beginners,Aggressive Fat Loss, Heal Your Body And Enjoy...by Jackson Gabriel



About the Book:

Intermittent Fasting:Aggressive Fat Loss, Heal Your Body And Enjoy Your Life is a have to have diet book and meal plan with the purpose of:
Help you understand what Intermittent Fasting is. Help you understand why it is so effective at weight loss. Give you the amazing benefits of adopting Intermittent Fasting. Give you a plan on how to get started with Intermittent Fasting to achieve your weight loss goals.
The book is an invaluable resource to help you discover how to stay healthy,how you can naturally get your body back to balance and also boost your immune system while losing fat and enjoying your life.
Intermittent Fasting:Aggressive Fat Loss, Heal Your Body And Enjoy Your Life book is actually not even a diet as such, but more of a lifelong eating plan. I know we live in the era of having 3-6 meals a day because we think this will increase our metabolism and enable us to lose weight, when in fact, that is not the case. Intermittent fasting entails scheduling your meals such that you eat during a certain period only or greatly lowering your calorie intake on certain days to push your body to burn fat for energy. If you want to learn more about intermittent fasting, then this is the right book for you.
The most important thing is that by understanding how to cook and what to eat,you’ll be able to enjoy your life while having a healthy body.
Just Click on “Buy now with 1-Click ®” and get this amazing book to start your journey towards greatness

Tomorrow may be too late, get this kindle ebook for just $0.99. Regularly priced at $4.99.
intermittent fasting books. intermittent fasting for women.

About the Author:

Follow the Author for updated information:  https://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Gabriel/e/B07KQDSNF5/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1




My Review:

Intermittent Fasting for Beginners,Aggressive Fat Loss, Heal Your Body And Enjoy...by Jackson Gabriel
Book starts with introduction about this idea. Lots of technical terms that are put into regular people language to help you understand the concept of it all.
Love scientific research and data about this concept. There are warnings about asking your doctor if you can try this.
Lots of benefits are listed if you are able to implement this concept. There are warnings about which groups should NOT under any circumstances to try this.
There are four ways you can make this work for you, check them all out.
Like the first option (16:8 method) as you are just giving up one meal. Also you are given things to do while you are fasting-very helpful suggestions.
There are day plans to help you not only save money but time to take to prepare them.
There is no calorie counting-what a plus!  There are cons and pros with this method that are discussed.
Warrior diet is another-the author talks about what you can and can't do and why. Very disciplined.
hours are up to you, phase to overeat, what to eat, and a sample schedule is included to help you stay organized.
What I love about this book is that the sources listed are linked online so you can read the articles yourself.
Love the increased lifespan and the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
Other two methods are also discussed in detail like the previous two with sections on: how it works, who is it best for, steps to do it, sample schedule, the pros and cons.
Also includes a preview of "anti-inflammatory diet healthy eating for healing the immune system, boosting energy and enjoying life' from the author's other works.
I received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

May 2 Book Review: The Start of Summer by Alison Walsh




The Start of Summer by Alison Walsh
Starts with the women sitting in the shade during the summer discussing how they love their young children...
They get along well talking about their weddings, births, etc.
Each of the women get their own chapters and we learn all their secrets about the spouses/boyfriends and the children...
Love how they are there for one another, in small groups to help them overcome not only their fears but get on with their dreams.
So many have been abused and mistreated and some are on their own, others have fathers for their babies that help out and some that don't.
Like getaways the women take with the children. Such real life situations that are dealt with.
Ends with acknowledgements.
Received this review copy from Hachette Books Ireland via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#TheStartOfSummer #NetGalley